IEB matric pass rate drops to lowest level in years

The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has announced an overall pass rate of 98.31% for the 2025 matric exams, the lowest rate in five years.

While still high, the pass rate dropped from 98.47% in 2024, to the lowest it has been since 2020.

However, the IEB attributes this to an increase in the number of learners taking the exams. In 2025, 17,413 learners wrote the IEB exams, up from 16,304 in 2024.

This year, 89.12% of candidates who wrote the IEB exams achieved entry to degree study, a slight decrease from the 89.37% Bachelor’s pass rate for 2024. 

The diploma pass rate for 2025 was 7.83%, an increase from 7.56% in 2024. 

In an interview with SABC, Confidence Dikgole, Chief Executive Officer of the IEB, said that the board is not concerned by the slight decrease in the pass rate.

“If you look at performance statistically, it’s a slight decrease. It’s important to frame that within a particular context, noting that the IEB is growing and has grown significantly,” said Dikgole. 

Dikgole warns that an increase in learners means that the pass rate will adjust to the higher number. 

“As soon as you begin to see growth in an assessment system. You can expect to see those fluctuations in the results, and it’s a normal phenomenon, really,” she said. 

Dikgole said that the IEB is handling the growth exceptionally well, especially given that the system has shifted to incorporate a variety of schooling formats. 

“It’s the nature of the IEB being very inclusive, so if you look at the fact that we have a mixed cohort of brick-and-mortar schools and we have online schools as well. So the landscape is really changing,” the CEO said. 

Dikgole said it is commendable that learners were able to achieve these results, given that the education system is changing and growing. 

Decline in performance due to increase in learners

To achieve a National Senior Certificate pass, candidates must achieve at least 40% in a home language subject, at least 40% in two other subjects and at least 30% in four other subjects. 

For a diploma pass, candidates must achieve at least 40% for a home-language subject, at least 40% in four other high-credit subjects, and at least 30% in two other subjects.

For a Bachelor’s pass, candidates must achieve at least 50% in four high-credit subjects, at least 40% in a home-language subject, and at least 30% in two other subjects. 

Dikgole added that looking at the overall pass rate does not provide an accurate indication of performance by subject. She said that mathematics learners, for example, performed particularly well this year.

“The overall Bachelor pass rate of 89.12% is exceptionally good, considering that this number of candidates will be able to access university studies, barring different faculty admission requirements.”

The IEB is adapting to the new world that graduates find themselves in in 2026. Dikgole said that there has been a particular focus on generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education.

“We’ve been able to take our teachers along in terms of understanding how AI can be used to enhance teaching and learning,” she said. “The best thing you can do is work alongside AI, and not look at it as if it is a no-go area.”

The IEB developed guidelines in 2025 to assist teachers in working with AI. Additionally, speaking on the changes the IEB made in the last year, the examination board also launched a digital platform where learners can practice for exams. 

Learners are also able to access career guidance on this website, which allows them to understand what subject choices they need to make and what grades they need to achieve for the field of study they aspire to. 

IEB exam results will be released today at 1 p.m.

National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam results from the public school system will then be released on Tuesday, 13 January.